Monoprinting is a printmaking technique that creates unique prints. It involves applying ink to a plastic surface with a roller, then placing paper on top and drawing through the paper, which transfers the image to the paper. When the paper is flipped over, it reveals a printed image with accidental background marks that make each monoprint unique. The process is simple but allows for spontaneity and a painted quality in the printed images.

1. Monoprinting

2. What are Monoprints?
Monoprinting is a very simple but effective method of
Printmaking. Mono means ‘alone’ in Latin. So you will be
creating single unique prints.
Monoprints are known
as the most painterly
method among the
printmaking
techniques, a
monoprint is often
regarded as a printed
painting
Monoprints often combine the spontaneity of printed inks
and paper, creating a surface that is unlike any other art.

3. 1. First of all dollop a small amount of ink onto your
plastic board, then dip your roller into it and roll the
ink on a clean piece of the plastic. When rolling
make sure you lift the roller so you don’t just roll the
same bit of ink (this is not the layer of ink you will be
working from, this is more like a recharge area).
2. Then you need to roll out the area of ink you will be
working on. You want it nice and thin and even
when you have got the correct surface area it
should become ‘tacky;. Each time you need a bit
more ink go back to your recharge area, not the
dollop of ink, you need to keep the ink to a
minimum.
What you will need:
An apron, newspaper, a plastic board, ink, roller, a range of marking
materials Eg:pencils, pens and a range of papers to experiment with.
Step-by-step
Monoprinting

4. 3. You then place your paper on top of
your rolled ink and draw on the back of
it. Experiment to start with, with different
types of pencil, pen, anything you can
find. They all make slightly different
marks.
4. Turn over your paper to see the results.
There are often lovely accidental marks
in the background when using this
technique, these are what make
Monoprints so charming
Step-by-step
Monoprinting
Try making marks with your fingers, this leaves a
lovely soft line, good for shading. Also remember if
you're including any lettering you have to write
backwards!
Tips…

5. Examples of adding shading with your fingers…
Add simple lines first and then create
shading with your fingers. The harder
you press the darker the marks will be.

6. Examples of adding shading with your fingers…
Add simple lines first and then create
shading with your fingers. The harder
you press the darker the marks will be.